Coney Island USA

{{short description|Nonprofit arts organization}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox museum

|name = Coney Island USA

|image = Coney Island USA east sunny jeh.jpg

|caption = Landmark building, once a Childs Restaurants branch

|imagesize =

|established = 1980
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

|coordinates = {{Coord|40.5753|N|73.9798|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|type = Art, cultural

|visitors =

|executive_director = Patrick Wall

|director = Adam Rinn, (artistic)

|founder = Costa Mantis, Jane Savitt-Tennen, Dick D. Zigun

|curator =

|website = {{Official website|http://www.coneyisland.com}}

}}

Coney Island USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1980 that is dedicated to the cultural and economic revitalization of the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City.{{Cite web |last=Thornton |first=Claire |title='Coney Island stew': Mermaid Parade kicks off summer by embracing the weird |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/06/22/what-is-the-coney-island-mermaid-parade-weird/74182215007/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Camille |first=Jada |date=2024-05-14 |title=Make way for the mermaids! Coney Island USA gears up for 42nd annual Mermaid Parade • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/coney-island-usa-mermaid-parade-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.brooklynpaper.com |language=en-US}}

Coney Island USA's headquarters building in the heart of Coney Island's amusement district houses a theater in which the organization presents "Sideshows by the Seashore", a showcase for performers with unusual talents that runs continuously during the warmer months, as well as the Coney Island Museum.

The Coney Island Museum features artifacts and memorabilia about the amusement park, beach and neighborhood's history and culture, as well as changing exhibits of art and culture. The museum is open seasonally.

Coney Island USA is also notable as the organizer of the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade, the first of which took place in 1983.{{cite web|title=About Coney Island USA|url=https://www.coneyisland.com/about-coney-island-usa|access-date=October 19, 2019|website=Coney Island USA}}{{cite web|title=Declaration of Restrictive Covenant|url=http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/DS/DocumentSearch/DocumentImageView?doc_id=2007082900194003|publisher=New York City Department of Finance, Office of the City Register}}

Coney Island USA was founded in 1980 by Costa Mantis, Jane Savitt-Tennen and Dick D. Zigun. Over the years, Coney Island USA has been funded, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York Council for the Humanities, the Brooklyn Borough President, and New York City Council member Mark Treyger and others.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-18|title=About Coney Island USA {{!}} Coney Island USA|url=https://www.coneyisland.com/about-coney-island-usa|access-date=2021-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818000000/https://www.coneyisland.com/about-coney-island-usa|archive-date=2021-08-18}}

In 2025, Coney Island USA joined the Coney Island History Project and other Coney Island community organizations in opposing the casino proposed by Thor Equities for Coney Island.{{Cite web |last=jdelaney@siadvance.com |first=Jillian Delaney {{!}} |date=2025-01-26 |title=Coney Island casino hits major roadblock in development |url=https://www.silive.com/news/2025/01/coney-island-casino-hits-major-roadblock-in-development.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=silive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hallum |first=Mark |last2= |first2= |date=2024-05-16 |title=Thor and Partners Release Scale of Coney Casino Proposal |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/05/thor-and-partners-release-scale-of-coney-casino-proposal/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Commercial Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Brooklyn Eagle |date=2025-01-22 |title=Coney Island History group fights against plans for casino |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/01/22/coney-island-history-group-fights-casino/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Brooklyn Eagle |language=en-US}} The Brooklyn Paper quoted Coney Island USA Executive Director Patrick Wall on the issue: “We’re asking for a giant fort to come and plop down on top of our entire amusement district across three blocks. That’s crazy! It’s going to keep people locked in, they’ve got food, they’ve got accommodations, they’ve got entertainment. They’re never going to come outside, they’re never going to give us money.”{{Cite web |last=Brendlen |first=Kirstyn |date=2025-01-24 |title=Coney Island community board votes against land use change for proposed casino • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/cb13-votes-no-coney-island-casino-land-use/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.brooklynpaper.com |language=en-US}}